http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/ Problems with building and home construction, contractors and repairs. en Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:43:15 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/images/misc/rss.png http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/ http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160148&goto=newpost Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:19:00 GMT My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Illinois We have a largish asphalt job. We hired a non-union vendor to do the work. We... My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Illinois

We have a largish asphalt job. We hired a non-union vendor to do the work. We don't ask union or non-union when we pick our vendors. We also don't pick strictly on price either. While price is a factor, we tend to go with whoever is most professional and knowledgeable about a job. Last year on a fire sprinkler job this happened to be a union vendor who believe it or not was competitive as far as price goes. So union does not have to mean price through the roof. This year on asphalt job, we happened to pick a non-union vendor.

Well apparently some union vendor complained that they did not get the job. Now the local hillbilly union as I have began to call them is after our vendor. Apparently the union has decided that this job is too big for the non-union vendor and that their members are loosing profit.

All the asphalt plants are union around here. My vendor told me that someone tried to build a non-union asphalt plant few years back and it got vandalized during construction. This sounds like a mafia to me.

Does the union have the power to order the asphalt plants to not sell to the non-union vendor?

Do I tell my vendor to sub it to a union and perhaps chip in the extra cost? I get the feeling they are being badly cornered.

Yes, I can hold my vendor to contract, but we work with our vendors. We don't want to take advantage of anyone.

Thank you very much. I need to make a decision quickly. ]]> Construction, Repair and Renovation mihamih http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160148 http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159765&goto=newpost Mon, 10 Jun 2013 02:23:10 GMT My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: - - - Updated - - - My mother hired a restoration company to fix her house after a... My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of:

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My mother hired a restoration company to fix her house after a fire. She had it set up that all the money from the insurance company for any building expense went though the restoration company. Now with that said, my mother had to hired a contractor for the cabinets in the house since the restoration company did not have anyone that could do custom cabinetry. The insurance company cut the restoration company a check for our contractor and then they cut a check for my mother to pay our contractor for the cabinetry work. When the fine price came in, the restoration contractor placed a overhead and profit markup on the cabinetry contractor saying that they were the general contractor and have the right to place overhead and profit on their contractor. Is this legal? I also have a 2nd question,are they legally allowed to place overhead and profit on any taxes?

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Ohio ]]> Construction, Repair and Renovation Reper24 http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159765 http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159496&goto=newpost Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:05:27 GMT My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: NJ Hello I am having trouble getting the subcontractor to complete thier work. I hired... My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: NJ

Hello I am having trouble getting the subcontractor to complete thier work. I hired a landscaper to build a boulder wall around our pool and they hired a concrete company to pour a concrete stamped deck around the pool. The sub completed the deck, but has failed to complete the finishing, which included power washing and sealing. The sub is telling me that they were never paid by the landscaping company and will not complete the work until they are paid. We paid the landscaper in full and at this time nobody is able to reach them. What are our options for getting the work completed that was subed out by the landscaper? This has been going on since October 2012. The sub came out to finish the job, but do to hurricane Sandy we had no water for the power washing. ]]> Construction, Repair and Renovation rtram http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159496 http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159380&goto=newpost Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:58:39 GMT My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Massachusetts I had agreed with the work of a Hardwood floor and paid him after the job... My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Massachusetts
I had agreed with the work of a Hardwood floor and paid him after the job done, but know for some reason , I want my money back. Is that sounded right ]]> Construction, Repair and Renovation jungle http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159380 http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159246&goto=newpost Fri, 31 May 2013 12:56:21 GMT My question involves real estate located in the State of: Tennessee Do you know the distance a neighbor can build a building in regards to my... My question involves real estate located in the State of: Tennessee
Do you know the distance a neighbor can build a building in regards to my property line? It is 7 inches of of my line. ]]> Construction, Repair and Renovation clarence http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159246 http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159146&goto=newpost Wed, 29 May 2013 21:06:06 GMT My question involves small claims court in the state of: Indiana Had an electrician install a sub panel back in 2005. He had to move around some... My question involves small claims court in the state of: Indiana

Had an electrician install a sub panel back in 2005. He had to move around some other breakers to make room for the new.

Two weeks ago, a breaker blew up in the panel. Smoke and all. Tried calling our original electrician but no return call. The new electrician said that incompatible breaker should have never been used in the panel and caused this issue. We had to replace the panel because the original electrician used an incompatible breaker in the panel. It also states on the panel box that use of incompatible breakers will void the warranty of the panel. I guess he did it anyway.

It took the old electrician 3 days to return our call after leaving 4 voicemails for him. The old electrician has offered to pay, but only less than half of the work we had to do to replace the panel. I don't think that's fair since it was due to his bad workmanship that caused it.

Can I take him to small claims? Does the statue of limitations begin when the original work was performed or when we became aware of the issue? We had no idea that he put that in and counted on his professional experience to assume that it was fine.

I would like to file and take him to court for the full cost, but am not sure if a judge would say that it was 8 years ago so your out of luck.... or if the statue of limitations didn't begin until we became aware of the issue since we didn't know there was a problem?

I appreciate your help! ]]> Construction, Repair and Renovation kazsil http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159146 http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158896&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 21:37:04 GMT My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Nevada Last year we took over an office park complex. We were told a particular... My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Nevada

Last year we took over an office park complex. We were told a particular building had it's AC units copper mined (smashed apart, and copper stolen), the former mgmt company had hired a contractor to replace the AC units (5 out of 8 units). The project cost them over $20k.

In the past year, the newly installed AC units have failed multiple times (burned out control boards & motors). While the old left over units have continued to function properly. After a few repairs, a third party HVAC maintenance company we used told us the new units are sized incorrectly, they're too big for the existing ducting. The result the tech described as something designed to blow through a slurpy straw, is being forced to blow through a juice box straw. They told us they could replaced the control boards, and motors. But they'll just burn themselves out after another few months of usage. The tech also mentioned that any warranty on the new units would not be honored by the manufacturer due to improper installation.

We've contacted the former mgmt company, and for a week they've been saying they'll dig out the invoice for the AC unit installation from storage, but it'd take time, and they could never say how much time. They won't give us the name of the contractor, instead giving us the contact of a man who claims to be the contractor's old partner, and no longer has anything to do with him or his company. He also refused to give out the guy's direct contact. The former mgmt was quick to say they have no liability, and neither did the contractor they used.

Estimates to purchase and install properly sized AC units are $16-17k.

What are our options legally? ]]> Construction, Repair and Renovation bigx5murf http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158896 http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158754&goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 18:45:25 GMT My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Oklahoma I purchased a home in April 2012 and completed a final walk-thru checklist on... My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Oklahoma

I purchased a home in April 2012 and completed a final walk-thru checklist on April 15th 2013 shortly thereafter, the garage door broke and I contacted the builder. I was directed to contact the garage door company so I did and they fixed the door a couple days later. In the meantime, I needed to use a key to get into the house. Embarrassing as it seems, we had never used our keys since closing and realized that we were given 3 mis-matched keys to the home and none work. I have had repeated texts and phone calls to determine how I can get another key made and have (at times) become frustrated that I was being told it was my problem and I should have dealt with it a year ago. I scheduled time off work on Monday, May 20th at their request to have them remove the deadbolt and make keys. When they didn't show, I let them know that I cannot be off work all day and will need them soon. They said they would be there in 20 minutes and would need 4 hours to complete. This was news to me and obviously I cannot stay home all day, so I called a locksmith. I don't feel I should have to pay for their mistake nor should I have to continue to take off work. I was told again they need a 4 hour window and if I cancel they are through. I let them know that there is a warranty checklist that is incomplete and the only additional thing I want is a single key that opens my door and if they weren't willing to comply I would have to take legal action.
The builders dad (owner of the homebuilding business) also happens to be an attorney, so I called to visit with him first to let them know I do not want a hassle, I just want the items fixed and they will never have to deal with me again. I had to leave a message and I did receive a call back. I have never been spoken to in the manner in which the attorney father treated me and he called me a liar, passive aggressive, aggressive aggressive and crazy. He said that they are trying to find solutions and I just want to complain. He wouldn't listen to my explanation nor would he say that they would do anything other than need me to take multiple hours off work to complete the punchlist. He even told me that the condesation on my windows causing puddles on the windowsill was due to the fact that I have house plants?
I realize this may be a battle that I do not want to continue and that is how I ended the conversation, however, I do not like being bullied and I also cannot take additional time off work especially when they don't show up. I have called a locksmith for the key issue because they can come at 530 when I'm home and fix it in an hour. It will cost me $110 to take care of. I also have contacted my insurance company and they are sending an adjuster to look at the windows to ensure they are installed correctly and to see if I need to file a claim or they want to.
What else am I able to do at this point? I don't believe the builder will work with me at all on any of the other items and gives me bogus answers for why my windows have puddles? Their 1-year warranty states specific things they will fix and I rarely called them over the past year, so I haven't been the obnoxious buyer that calls every time something goes wrong. Am I crazy for thinking anything will be accomplished at this point? I may mention that the father (owner of the business) said he does not care about me, my needs and the customer is not always right - he said he's had 3 upset homeowners over the years and he didn't care if I was the 4th.
Help?
K ]]> Construction, Repair and Renovation kyates http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158754